Molly Schwartz: The Role of the User in Digital Libraries

I am proposing to explore the ways that digital libraries can or should adopt crowdsourcing techniques in the creation, curation, organization, and access of content. Specific issues I plan to explore are the benefits and dangers of de-professionalization, the possibilities for integrating social data into digital library functions, and ways that the public can build their own digital library experience regardless of where the materials come from.

I think it would be very beneficial for participants to share their personal experiences using crowdsourcing for library functions. It would be particularly interesting to look at platforms such as Wikipedia, Kickstarter, and others to see if their success could be replicated in the library world.

I would also like to relate this topic back to user-focused services, usability and user experience, and the concept that users can build their own experiences for how they receive their information.

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Cycling for libraries is a library publicity campaign organized by the International Association for Library Advocacy.